Daggerhorn

Katherine's mouth dropped open, eyes practically bugging out of her head. There was no way that was Aaron. Her brother practically... repelled girls. Not that he really meant to... just he... had no clue what to do with them. But... she couldn't deny her eyes right now. She'd know him anywhere. "Methias!" she whispered fiercely, grabbing his arm. "Do you know who that is?!"Her mind was racing, trying to figure out how her brother could get to know someone so well, and yet her not even heard a name through gossip.

Aaron blinked, surprised when she kissed him. He didn't hesitate though, this time, and kissed her back, hands moving to rest on her hips. He couldn't believe his luck, this situation was looking brighter and brighter the more time he spent around Tobias.

"I haven't the faintest idea," Methias said as he looked down at her, then glanced back up at Aaron. "But it looks to me like he likes her quiet a bit. Perhaps a proposal is soon to follow?"

Toby blushed just slightly as her hands ran up and wrapped around his neck and her body relaxed against his. She was content to kiss him, actually she was happy to kiss him. It felt amazing, and she knew he'd take good care of her. He deserved this. He deserved her "love".

Katherine snorted, her eyes lighting up with disbelief. "Aaron? Marry?" she asked, dismissing the idea immediately. "I'd sooner as believe that I'm to marry, than Aaron. And that's a far fetched idea." Pausing, she hesitated, glancing back up at him, then to Aaron. "... it would be rude to intrude, wouldn't it?"

Aaron smiled at her, simply watching her after the kiss was finished. He was happy to simply stand there, rather pleased actually.

Methias watched her, a frown tugging at his lips. "I am not leaving you alone Katherine. You either go to your brother, or you go home with me," he said in a determined voice. "I do not trust these people, I don't know them like I know the village."

"Aaron?" Toby asked as she laid her head on his chest. "Remind me to teach you French when we are married.. .okay? That way. .. you know what I am saying ... .parce que je suis très heureux, tu me fais très heureux.....you make me happy..."

Katherine sighed, giving him an annoyed look. "Fine, fine. I'll come home with you," she said, casting a look back over at them. "But you have to promise you'll find more out, about this. I can't believe that he's going to marry. It's impossible."

Aaron smiled even bigger, his hand reaching to hold her close. "I'll try to remember," he said. "and I promise you, the feeling is mutual."

Methias let out a small breath of relief and nodded. "I will talk to him tomorrow," he said as he started to direct her back towards his shop. "Or if he comes by later, one or the other." He took hold of her hand so she wouldn't run away.

Toby blushed and smiled, letting him pull her close as she leaned into his chest, her head resting against it. "..we will be married before the wolves come...won't we?"

Katherine sighed, glancing at their hands with a bit of curiosity. She couldn't imagine why they'd need to hold hands, unless he thought she was going to go away. She snorted, rolling her eyes then. She was hardly about to run away. She'd agreed to come with him. ...although, that idea had merit. "Thank-you, then," she said after a moment, pushing those thoughts away. "What will we do now, do you think?"

Aaron held her, doing his best not to tense at the mentioning of the wolves. "Yes," he said after a moment. "I will make sure of that. I won't allow those beasts to harm you, no need to worry."

Toby fell silent for a moment as she took in what he said. She gave a small, slow nod, and carefully hid her face in his chest. "I was thinking about them harming you.." she said softly. "I don't want them to harm you..."

Methias glanced around the now quiet town. "Well, we are going to head back to my shop. I have work to be done, and you can keep me company." The quiet always put him on edge, but then again, so did the crowds. It was at those times that the wolves decided to strike, and they never seemed to fail.

Aaron's face flushed and he looked away for a moment, gathering his words. "Thank-you," he murmured. "I don't know what I've done to deserve that feeling, and I appreciate it. How about we protect each other, hm?"

Katherine wrinkled her nose, casting annoyed looks at the streets at the same time."I'll never understand why people go home so early," she complained, deciding to ignore what he'd decided they would be doing. "The night is so much more interesting than the day. Especially the stars, those are the best, and you don't see them out during the day, do you?"

Toby felt a small smile pull at her lips. "Yes," she said softly as she gave a small nod. "Yes, we can protect each other." A small breath of what felt like relief escaped her. "Thank you...again...for all of this.."

"Oh, I don't know, the wolves maybe," Methias said in a somewhat sarcastic tone. Her disregard for safety always boggled his mind. It was as if she could care less about being eaten alive. All she wanted was something "interesting".

"Because we are mortal," Methias said as he looked over at her. "We will not always be there, and we can't always fight off the bad things. Yes, we try to do so, and we've kept things fairly safe for a while now, but that does not mean that fate cannot change."

Katherine sighed, casting the sky a regretful look before looking at his shop. "Well, I still think all of you are too cautious," she said rebelliously. "We're just fine right now, aren't we? Nothings getting us besides silly fear..."

Aaron smiled, "You're welcome, Tobias."He simply stood there, then. He enjoyed the feeling of her standing there with him, the simple happiness that took over him. It was nice... relaxing like this.

Methias looked down at her, frustration on his face. He rolled his eyes and went to retaliate, but stopped, hearing the sound of a branch snap. He froze and cast his eyes around cautiously. He slowly pulled her behind him and backed her towards the shop. He heard another snap, and his eyes turned to see a wolf making its way out of the alley a few feet away. "Stay quiet," he whispered to Kathrine, continuing to move back with her.

Toby smiled and sighed happily. This moment was perfect, and safe. It was as if nothing could touch them there. An scream pierced the air and she quickly turned to see that her tent was on fire and men from the camp running towards the smoke with weapons in hand. A howl seemed to rise above the commotion and her eyes widened. "Mama!" She screamed, quickly picking up her skirt and running to the camp.

Aaron froze, then took off after her. "Tobias, you can't!" he began, attempting to stop her. "You mustn't go alone!" He did his best to catch up with her, making up for the moment he'd been unsure of what to do. His eyes searched the camp before them for any hint of what was causing the flames and commotion.

Katherine's eyes grew wide, her whole body beginning to shake. It was one thing to say she wasn't scared of them, it was another to say it when the wolf was right there before them. She opened her mouth to say something, but then remembered what Methias had said about being silent. Instead she shut it and allowed him to escort her back.

"If I tell you to run, you go to the shop as fast as you can, lock the door, and stay there until I come for you," Methias said quietly. The wolf was large, bigger than normal, and slowly its head swung around to face them. Methias swallowed, watching the wolf as it slowly started to approach, growling. "Go," Methias said softly to her as he reached for an ax outside one of the houses, keeping himself between the wolf and her.

"Mama!" Toby didn't seem to even hear him as she raced through the tents and past the women who were running in the opposite direction. After much determination she had pushed herself through and found her mother laying on the ground outside the tent, her body torn by a wolf. "No! Mama!" She quickly ran to her, dropping to her knees. Tears spilled down her cheeks as she put her head in her lap, the world seeming to slow and the sounds around her fading until they couldn't be heard any more. Men rushed around her as they tried to put out the tent, others seemed to be driving shadows back to the forest. Her body shook with her sobs as she rested her forehead against her mothers and stroked her cold face gently.